IF DJIBRIL Cissé thinks he can walk straight back into a striker role at QPR when his ban is up – he can think again.

Jamie Mackie reckons he instead has laid down a marker to be the man that partners Bobby Zamora up front – not the £4million Frenchman.

Mackie struck twice in last week's 3-2 defeat at Blackburn Rovers, and did so coming off the bench at a ground where a little over a year ago he badly broke a leg in two places.

Undeterred, the Scotland international struck from close range as well as sending a cracking shot past Rovers keeper Paul Robinson in the final minute.

Mackie is hoping his goals and a week away with Mark Hughes and team-mates in Portugal will give the Rs boss food for thought.

He said: “I was delighted to be up front too as I haven't been playing there much. I'll play wherever I'm told, but I feel my best position is up front, and that is where I can benefit the team most.

“When you spend a long time on the sidelines like I did, you get to work on other parts of your game, and I did spend a lot of time working in the gym.

“I'm feeling the benefits now. I'm much fitter and stronger than before, and at a time of season when players are starting to tire, I am still feeling really fresh.”

Cissé will serve the second of a three-match ban when Rangers meet Fulham head on in the derby clash next Saturday.

The forward got his marching orders in the last home match against Wolves when he foolishly reacted to a bad tackle and grabbed defender Roger Johnson by the throat.

But out in the sun, Mackie reckons he can only further his claim as a hitman by learning from the manager – himself a famed striker with Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona and Wales.

He added: “As a striker, it's a fantastic opportunity for me to learn off one of the best strikers there has ever been in this country.

“He hasn't had much of a chance to do specific work with the strikers yet, as we are in the middle of a battle here, and you have to work forward from the back first.

“But he's started to do a few more sessions with us, and I hope as time goes on, and once the team is sorted, we will get more so I can tap into his mind.”